Method and apparatus of manufacturing electron source, and adjusting method of the electron source, and method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus having the electron source

A method of manufacturing an electron source having a plurality of electron-emitting devices respectively connected to a plurality of first wirings, characterized by comprising:

• the voltage application step of selecting some first wirings from the plurality of first wirings, and applying a voltage V1 to a plurality of devices connected to each of the selected first wirings by potentials applied to the selected first wirings and a potential applied to a second wiring connected to the plurality of devices respectively connected to the selected first wirings, the voltage V1 having a relationship with a maximum value V2 of a voltage applied as a normal driving voltage after the voltage application step, so as to satisfy:
• giving a current I flowing upon application of the voltage V when the voltage V falling within a voltage range causing electron emission upon application of the voltage between two electrodes each device is applied to the device:
• I=f(V) (1)
• and letting f′ (V) be a differential coefficient of f(V) at the voltage V,
• a condition:
• f(V1)/{V1·f′(V1)−2f(V1)}>f(V2)/{V2·f′(V2)−2f(V2)} (2).

A method of adjusting an electron source having a plurality of electron-emitting devices, characterized by comprising:

• the voltage application step of applying potentials to a first wiring commonly connected to a plurality of electron-emitting devices, and a plurality of second wirings respectively connected to the plurality of electron-emitting devices, such that a voltage V1 is applied to the plurality of electron-emitting devices connected to the first wiring by the potentials applied to the first wiring and the plurality of second wirings, the voltage V1 having a relationship with a maximum value V2 of a voltage applied as a normal driving voltage after the voltage application step, so as to satisfy:
• giving a current I flowing upon application of a voltage V when the voltage V falling within a voltage range causing electron emission upon application of the voltage between two electrodes is applied to the device:
• I=f(V) (1)
• and letting f′ (V) be a differential coefficient of f(V) at the voltage V,
• a condition:
• f(V1)/{V1·f′(V1)−2f(V1)}>f(V2)/{V2·f′(V2)−2f(V2)} (2)
• wherein the potential applied to each second wiring is set to reduce a difference in magnitude of the voltage V1 applied to each electron-emitting device as a potential difference between the potential applied to the electron-emitting device through the first wiring and the potential applied to the electron-emitting device through each second wiring.